A former AEW World Champion is expected to make an earlier return to the company.
In one of the most shocking endings in company history, Swerve Strickland was knocked out by Adam Page in their unsanctioned steel cage match in the main event of All Out. Injected with a hypodermic needle and struck in the head with a steel chair, the brutal attack had fans talking one way or the other in response to the controversial angle.
Due to the way the match ended, the former World Champion has not been seen on TV since. However, according to a new report, his time away looks to have been reduced.
As reported by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Strickland will be back sooner than originally planned and it is speculated that the Washington native will be factored into plans at WrestleDream given that it is taking place in Tacoma:
Swerve Strickland we were told will be back sooner than originally expected. It would make sense for him to be on the 10/12 PPV in Tacoma, since he’s from there, although we don’t have that confirmed. I don’t know where they go with Strickland vs. Page after the lights out cage match, but the feud definitely should continue
Former AEW Rival Praises Swerve Strickland
Continuing the momentum of late 2023, Strickland has had a year to remember in 2024 as he won the World Championship for the first time and headlined All In in front of 50,000 fans inside Wembley Stadium. In a recent interview, another top star questioned how anyone could let Swerve Strickland go.